One thing I've noticed with using USB-serial adapters and NMEA data streams is if data is coming across as Windows detects the hardware, it often confuses it for a serial mouse, causing all kinds of issues as the pointer jumps everywhere and clicks at random. Making sure Windows recognizes the USB-Serial adapter before plugging it in to the device seems to be the only way to avoid this.
Kevin KB3PLX
--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: Dave at emv.co.uk
To: aprssig at tapr.org
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 13:11:33 +0000
Subject: [aprssig] OT RE: usb-serial
I have often used USB<>RS232 adapters with TNC's Radios, other
industrial stuff, dialup modems, Serial to Fibre adapters (self powered)
all with no problems.
The "Secret" such as it maybe, is to ensure you have the correct USB
device drivers on your system before you offer it the hardware. Vista
is no different to XP/2000 in that respect, other than not as many
device makers have Vista compatable drivers available, as they do for
XP, though things are improving as time goes buy. Check your adapter
makers website, if they have one...
If your adapter is using a known chipset (as many do) and you can
identify it from either the packing notes, old drivers, or what the
system discovers about it when you connect it, you could try looking on
the chip makers websites for drivers. FTDI and Prolific are two that
provide good drivers for all their "generic" products, and will often
work OK with other brand devices that use their chips.
Vista is a pain for other reasons, but USB<>RS232 devices shouldnt be
one of them.
MS in all honesty do not want you to have to buy anything new to use
Vista, why would they? As that would discourage people from "upgrading"
(Their phrase). Vista does need you to have Vista compatable drivers
though, most XP ones will not work, if they load (some do though..) But
that is down to the device makers, not Microsoft.
XP is not Vista, Vista is not XP, they are chalk and chese in effect.
Much to everyone's anoyance...
(XP is very similar to W2000 though)
73.
Dave G0WBX
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